Locking mechanism for venetian blinds



July 20, 1937. c. D. WALKER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VENETIAN BLINDS FiledDec. 19', 1935 +4 M Rw m w w mm W J M A m fili w ID. 4 A .51:2. V. w Y HM W c A,

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING FQR VENETIANCharles D. Walker, New York, N. Y., assignor to John M. Nordstrom, NewYork. N. Y.

Application December 19, 1935, Serial No. 55,182

4 Claims. (01., 156-17) My invention relates to the control of windowshades or curtains of the Venetian blind type.

and particularly to the cord locking means able parts, and which will belong-lived in ac-.

In the ordinary'devices of this character, the surfaces between whichthe gripping and holding actions are effected are usually metallic, and

are grooved, scored, corrugated, or otherwise treated, to catch and lockthe cords therebetween.

- Constant friction frays, cuts and otherwise so jured, even afterextraordinary use 1 It is a furtherobiect ofmy invention to provide adevice of the character described the parts of which may be. easily,quickly and inexpensively replaced when occasion demands.

Other objects will in part be pointed out hereinbelow, and in part beapparent from the following drawing and description of an illustrativeembodiment, in which drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portionof a conventional Venetian blind" provided with one form of deviceconstructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device substantially as same isshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 8nd 5 2 I Figmi is asection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Broadly, my invention consists of passing the cords (shadeactuating-means) between relatively movable blocks faced with aresilient material, whereby as the blocks move along a determined path,the cords are quickly gripped and firmly held therebetween.

The blind III is actuated by a pair of cords l2, connected at one end IIto the blind" Ill itself, and free at the other end 16 for manualactuation. Cords l2 pass through holder 18 wherein they are held orreleased, as desired.

The casing 20 of holder l8, within which the movable blocks arecontained, is otherwise hollow, and comprises a pair of sheets of lightgauge metal, stamped or bent to form roughly a foursided obliquetruncated pyramid; one wall 22 of which is straight and is provided withan end portion 24 atan angle therefrom and an extension whereby theholder is attached to the blind." The wall 26, opposite wall 22, is thebase part of a U-shaped clip which is spot welded, or otherwise securedto wall 22, to complete the casin and this U-shaped member is so shapedthat wall 26 is inclined with respect to said wall 22. The

. pyramid is composed of two sheets, one of which forms three sidesthereof, and the other the fourtli side and means to attach said casingto the blind.

A solid rectangular block 23, of resilient material, preferably hardrubber, is fastened within a U-shaped shoe 30, of light gauge metal.This shoe 3!], with block 23 therein, is fitted within casing 2'1 andsecured to wall 22 thereof by means of threaded screws 32. Block 28 isso fastened within shoe 30, and shoe 36 so secured within casing 20, asto leave one face 33 of block 23 completely uncovered and open. Anotherblock 34, of similar material to block 28, is fastened within anotherU-shaped metal shoe 36, and also fitted withincasing20.

Block 34, while solid, is shaped like an oblique and truncatedfour-sided pyramid. Face 38 thereof, opposed to face 33 of block 28, isperfectlystraight, but the face ll! thereof, abutting against shoe 36,is angled with respect thereto,

I just as casing wall 26 is angled with respect to wall 22.

Wall 26 is provided with a longitudinal slot 42 in the center thereof,and block 34, unlike block as, which is fixed within the casing, isslidable up and down along the, track formed in downwardpull will beopposed only by the weight of the "blind", since the clearance betweenthe blocks is enough to keep the cords out of contact blindin anydesired position to which it has been -raised, cord's I! are pulled toone side to engage face 30 of the movable block. Keeping the cords inthe pulled over and block engaging position, as shown in dotted lines inFigures 1 and 2, the weight of the -blind" is allowed to pull the cordsupwardly, carrying with them block 34. As block 34, within shoe I8,rides .up the track formed by slot 42 within wall 28, opposed blockfaces 33' arid ii are brought nearer and nearer to each other,decreasing the normal clearance until cords I! are firmly and securelygriped and held therebetween. The dotted line outline of Fig. 2 showshow short is the distance block 34 must ride up within the casing beforethe cordsare locked, and how quickly this is accomplished.'I'heresilient nature of the blocks and the firm grip of the cordsinsure the positiveness of the holding and locking action, and preventany sliding or slipping. The weight of the "blind gravity-impelled,slides to the bottom of the slot,

bolt 4| serving as a stop means. Normal clearance being re-established,cords l2 will pass between the opposed'blocks freely and as quickly asmay be desired, in either. direction, arid the shade may be lowered Jrraised, etc.

' I have referred to the curtain actuating means as cords", and same maybe either of fibrous material, as hemp, flax, etc. ormetallic, as a linkchain, both being suitable for use with my locking device. i

.I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention,showing one block stationary and the other block movable. How-, ever,-Ican make bothblocksmovable within the casing by providing'blockxlfl witha headed bolt similar to bolt 44, passing through a slot in wall 22 justas block 34 rides up and down wall 26. Just as easily, the walls mayeach be inclined with respect to the other, and the blocks, of course,correspondingly shaped. All these, and other modifications may beresorted towithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the gistand heart of which is the use of blocks of resilient material to effectthe locking action. It will be seen that my invention is quick, silentand positive in action, will not injure the cords in any mannerwhatsoever, can be taken downand new parts replaced very easfly andquickly, and will be long lived in action, with very few parts a capableof getting out of order.

It is adaptable for use not only to blinds per se but to ordinary windowcurtainsor shades,

and the use of the term shade in my claims is not to be construed as anylimitation of the uses to which my device may be put.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

' 1. In combination, a blind, cords to raise and walls, said blocksbeing normally gravity maintained in the lowermost position sutiicientlyapart to allow free passage of the cords therebetween, and means tocause one of said blocks to ride up its walls to decrease the normaldistance betweenthe blocks to grip and lock the cordstherebetween assame approach each other, said means comprising an engagement betweenthe cord and said block whereby the weight of the blind will come intoplay to raise said block.

2. In combination, a blind, cords to raise and lower same, and a devicefor locking the cords whereby to secure the blind at any position, saiddevice comprising a hollow casing having a pair of opposite wallsupwardly inclined to each other, a pair of blocks of resilient materialdisposed within said casing, one of which is slidable up and down alongone of said walls, and'the other of which-is the sdme height as theopposite wall and immovably secured thereto, said blocks being normallygravity maintained sufficiently apart to allow free passage of the cordstherebetween when the movable block thereof is in the down position, andgripping and locking the cords therebetween upon movement of saidmovable block up its inclined wall whereby the distance between theblocks is decreased.

3. A device of-the character described com- "prising a hollowcasing,.one plane wall of which is straight and an opposite wall ofwhich is upwardly. inclined with respect thereto, a pair of shoes disosed within the casing, each of which shoes has a block of resilientmaterial mounted therein, one of said blocks being substantiallyrectangular and disposed within one shoe against having one straightface and an opposite iae inclined thereto similarly to the casing walls,

said other block being disposed within its shoe so that the straightface is presented toward the first described block, with the inclinedface of said other block disposed within its shoe against and movabletherewith up and down the inclined wall, said shoes and blocks beingnormally gravity spaced apart a distance to allow passage of shadeactuating means therebetween, and being relatively movable to decreasethe space therebetween to grip and lock said actuating meanstherebetween.

.4. A device of the character described coinprlsing a hollow casing, oneplane wall of which is straight'and an opposite wall of which isupwardly inclined with respect thereto, a slotted opening in saidinclined wall, a pair of shoes disposed within the casing, one of whichshoes is fixed within the casing, and the other of which is movablerelative thereto, each of which shoes has a block of resilient materialmounted therein and the movable shoe has a headed pin extending throughthe slot in the casing, the block in the one of said shoes beingsubstantially rectangular and disposed within the shoe against thestraight wall, and the blockin the other of said shoes having onestraight face and an opposite face inclined thereto similarly to theeasing walls, said other block being disposed within the shoe so thatthe straight face is presented toward the first described block and theinclined face of said other blocks abuts against and is movable with itsshoeup and down the inclined wall along the slotted track, said shoesand blocks being normally gravity spaced apart a distance to allowpassage of shade actuating means therebetween, and being relativelymovable to decrease the space therebetween to grip and lock theactuating means therebetween.

CHARLES D. WALKIR.

